- Means to have narrowly avoided a negative or dangerous situation, problem, or outcome.
Explanation
Origin
- Literal imagery from warfare or combat, where physically dodging a bullet means escaping death or serious injury.
- Metaphorically extended to any situation where potential harm or trouble was avoided just in time.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Skated by. (Managed to get through a difficult situation, often just barely)
- Got off scot-free. (Escaped punishment or negative consequences entirely)
- That was a close shave. (Similar meaning, slightly older feel)
Milder:
- That was fortunate.
- We were lucky.
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally informal due to its metaphorical nature.
- Can be used in some semi-formal business contexts if the tone is right, but might be too colloquial for very formal situations. Avoid using it lightly for truly tragic events someone else barely escaped.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might be confused by the literal image of a bullet if they don't understand it's a metaphor for any narrowly avoided negative outcome.
Examples
- The company almost went bankrupt, but the last-minute investment saved us. We really dodged a bullet.
- I almost married him, but then I found out about his gambling problem. Dodged a bullet there.
- He missed the flight that ended up being severely delayed for hours. He dodged a bullet.
Dialogue
Person A: I heard your department narrowly avoided the budget cuts.
Person B: Tell me about it. We totally dodged a bullet. They were going to cut three positions.
Person A: Wow, that was close. Glad you all made it through.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Almost invested in that crypto coin before it crashed. Dodged a bullet! #Crypto #Investment #NearMiss
- Facebook Post: Remember that awful storm last week? My neighbor's tree just missed my roof. Dodged a bullet!
- LinkedIn Comment (on an article about a failed company): I interviewed there last year but didn't get the job. Seeing this news... feels like I dodged a bullet.
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Empathy: Wow, sounds like it. / Yeah, lucky escape. / You certainly did.
- Inquiry: What happened? / How close was it?
- Shared relief: Phew, glad you're okay / glad that didn't happen.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Dodged a bullet:
- Usually prompts questions about the details of the near-miss: Really? What was the situation?
- Express sympathy or shared relief: That sounds stressful.
After saying Dodged a bullet:
- Often followed by explaining the potential negative outcome that was avoided: Dodged a bullet... if that deal had gone through, we'd be bankrupt now.
- Might shake one's head or show other non-verbal signs of relief.
Conversation Starter
- No. It describes a past event, usually in response to a question or as part of a narrative.
Intonation
- Emphasis usually on dodged and bullet. We really DODGED a BULLET.
- Often said with a tone of relief, sometimes mixed with a slight sense of lingering shock or awareness of the near-miss.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across most adult generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in American English. Also understood and used in other English-speaking regions like the UK, Canada, and Australia, perhaps slightly less frequently than in the US.